3 things to remember before Cavs-Raptors Game 2

While it’s an understandable stance from the Toronto Raptors that they played the right way and played like the better team in Game 1, they face a must-win in Thursday’s Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland has had it’s share of stumbles this season, sure, but Toronto won’t be hearing about that narrative if they go down 0-2 at home.

Cleveland survived a 12 for 30 night from LeBron James, while Kevin Love was 3 for 13. But both had redemption in other aspects of the game, James’ presence on defense was a difference maker for Cleveland and Love’s big fourth quarter contributions were mostly forgotten thanks to Toronto awakening old demons.

However, Toronto has the tools to face those demons too. And for as much talk about playing the right way, their stars must balance the dogma with the circumstances at hand.

LeBron James’ difference-making defense

LeBron’s defense on Kyle Lowry towards the end of Game 1 got a lot of attention. Lowry was noticeably absent from Toronto’s attack and that was because the Cavs stuck LeBron on him. However, it wasn’t just in the 4th quarter when LeBron’s presence helped changes things on the defensive end.

The Cavs have been a terrible defensive team all season and have the worst defensive rating of the teams left in the playoffs. However, the Cavs need only slow down a Raptors attack that was 2nd in the league in offensive rating to give themselves a chance. They did just enough in Game 2. And while Tristan Thompson’s presence was also big, LeBron’s attention was just as important.

On this earlier drive by Lowry, James shuts down his drive and forces Lowry to make the right play by passing to Pascal Siakam, a career 21% 3-point shooter.

Jeff Green steps in on the drive and draws the offensive foul on Siakam, who gets caught in no-mans land. It was great team defense, but with no true rim protector, the key was LeBron.

His work on Lowry was lauded, but a forgotten last play was this stunt to Fred VanVleet when the Raptors had a chance to win in regulation. VanVleet was dealing with a shoulder injury, but it’s hard to calculate for added dread of LeBron James being the one charging at you for the game-winner.

And on VanVleet’s attempt in overtime, 6-9 Jeff Green was in his face.

Toronto has to be the ones to make the shot and the Cavs deserve credit for making them feel their presence. But just who will take the big shots for Toronto is another matter of discussion.

Playing ‘The Right Way’

The chatter from the Raptors following Game 1 was that they were fine with how they played because they played the right way. And yes, there is a virtue in ball movement and getting teammates involved. Trusting in teammates is important. But this is also the NBA and at some point, you need your stars to make plays.

In the 4th quarter, DeRozan took just three field goal attempts and Lowry only two. We addressed LeBron’s defense above, but part of the Cavs defensive strategy is also getting the ball out of the hands of their stars, particularly DeRozan but also Lowry and VanVleet at times.

Here, the Raptors make the exact right plays needed to beat the Cavs strategy.

With all due respect to the Ibaka Hammer, I’m pretty sure the Cavs would rather have him take the biggest shots for Toronto over DeRozan, Lowry or VanVleet.

DeRozan and Lowry, in particular, have a difficult task in front of them. They certainly have to trust their teammates, but they also have to trust in themselves as stars to improvise in times of dire need.

Kevin Love’s forgotten 4th quarter

Like everybody else, I’ve been waiting for Kevin Love to play at an All-Star level. But there is one thing that you can certainly give Love credit for over the past two games: when he’s gotten buckets, they’ve been as timely as could be.

He had 8 4th quarter points in their Game 7 win and had five of his seven points in the 4th quarter of Tuesday’s game. And it looks like the tough series where he faced double teams in the post against Indiana has prepared him for when Toronto does the same.

His play was much more than the points, even though that’s what they need most. But let’s get this straight: talk of Love’s demise has been greatly exaggerated.

Love’s play in the 4th quarter helped guide Cleveland to a win. First, he got things going in the post.

Thompson’s free-throws tied the game and it was a brand new ball game. Love’s decision making looked much better and also led to a few open looks for Korver that didn’t go down as well as plenty for himself.

Love’s shots aren’t falling like they normally do and that’s definitely cause for concern. But the way he played and the things that came from it tell a different story.

It hasn’t been as consistent as Cleveland would like, but it’s shown up at crucial times in the last two games. The numbers look rough for Love, but the film was encouraging.

If the Cavs can continue to slow down Toronto and the math starts working in their favor like it did in the regular season offensively, Cleveland has a chance to take a commanding lead in this series on Thursday.

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